Mike Woodson offers optimism, not specifics on Knicks' injuries

Coach Mike Woodson insists Rasheed Wallace will return from the stress reaction in his right foot, but that might not happen before the All-Star break. Debby Wong/USA TODAY Sports

Knicks
coach Mike Woodson was optimistic at Tuesday's practice despite the recent
barrage of injuries that have affected his frontcourt.

Center
Tyson Chandler, he said, will likely be "probable" for Wednesday's home game
against the Orlando Magic despite some lingering neck pain from Sunday's win
over the Atlanta Hawks.

"I
don't think it's that serious," said Woodson, who was told that Chandler originally
hurt his neck in the Jan. 10 loss to the Pacers. "I didn't know he hurt in Jan.
10. That's news to me, but, you know, we're being cautious about it and he'll
be probable [for] starting tomorrow. We'll see when he gets to the gym
tomorrow."

As
for backup bigs Marcus Camby (plantar fasciitis in his left foot) and Rasheed
Wallace (a stress reaction in his left foot), Woodson feels they're beginning
to turn a corner as well, although he isn't forcing the issue.

"He's
getting close," Woodson said of Wallace. "How close, I don't know. I don't know
if he and Camby will be back before All-Star break. I don't know that. If not,
we can handle our business until All-Star break and use that as time and rest
and give them a little more time -- that helps us.

"I
want them to be right for the stretch run."

The
Knicks only backup post players are Amar'e Stoudemire (who
could be considered for the starting lineup) and 40-year-old Kurt Thomas, which is why the foot injuries are so problematic for the Knicks. Camby has at least been playing in recent seasons, but Wallace had to come out of retirement to play this season and may not have been ready physically.

As
for point guard Jason Kidd, who was limited to five minutes on Sunday, Woodson
said he'll continue to be monitored. Kidd has had some back issues this season.

"I'll
still play Kidd," Woodson said. "Kidd's gonna be my guy to basically play how I
steer him. If he tells me, 'Hey, I need to back off,' I'm gonna back off. Jason
is a big piece of this puzzle and I need him when it counts and that's coming
down the home stretch."

Kidd's
reduction in playing time is happening just as Raymond Felton returns from a
fractured pinkie.

It's actually the third hand injury Felton has suffered this season, but he too
was optimistic about his progress.

"My
thumb is totally healed, but I think my right hand is still not healed totally
-- my pinkie or my bone bruise," he said, adding, "It's better than it was last
time."

Obviously
the injury situation has played havoc with Woodson's rotation, but second-year
guard Iman Shumpert sees an ancillary advantage.

"By
playoffs we hope to be healthy," Shumpert said. "With a guy going out and a guy
stepping in, everybody's getting their time. It's going to be hard for Woody to
play all of us anyway. So it's actually helping him out a lot to his advantage
to be able to work us all in. But I think by playoff time he'll be able to
throw anybody out there and they'll be ready for whatever."